Mehul Choksi demands 'justice' after Dominica drops proceedings against him

New Delhi: After Dominican authorities dropped proceedings against Mehul Choksi for illegally entering in their country, the fugitive diamnataire has gone on offensive repeating his earlier charge that Indian "agents" forcibly removed him from Antigua and Barbuda and brought to Dominica on boat. 

Choksi added that his legal team will "pursue all avenues for justice to redress the human rights violations committed against him".

"Mr. Choksi is pleased that the Dominican Government has today (the order was issued on May 17) dropped all charges against him for unlawful entry in May 2021. By doing so they now recognise that there was never any case against him. Mr. Choksi was forcibly removed from Antigua against his will by agents of the Indian State, viciously assaulted, and taken to Dominica by boat, where he was again unlawfully handed over to authorities for an offence he never committed. Mr. Choksi’s legal team continue to pursue all avenues for justice to redress the human rights violations committed against him. Mr. Choksi hopes that those responsible for his kidnapping from Antigua on May 23, 2021, will be brought to justice," said a statement issued on his behalf. 

Earlier, a public prosecutor issued notice and informed the designated magistrate that proceedings against Choksi were being discontinued. 

Choksi along with his nephew Nirav Modi is facing charges of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of Rs 13500 crore. When the charges surfaced in 2018, both Modi and Choksi fled from India. Modi was traced to the United Kingdom and Choksi reached the carribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. 

Later it was revealed that Choksi had taken citizenship of the carribbean nation. 

India launched proceedings against Choksi in Antigua and Barbuda to bring him back here to face criminal charges but the matter got complicated as New Delhi didn't have a formal extradition treaty with the island nation. 

As the matter for Choksi's extradition remained pending in the Antiguan court, the fugitive diamnataire mysteriously surfaced in Dominica in May last year and was arrested on the charges of illegally entering in the country but Choksi claimed that agents of Indian intelligence agencies kidnapped him from Antigua and Barbuda and put him on a boat to bring him to Dominica. He also alleged that the Indian agents had beaten him while bringing him to Dominica

His sudden appearance in Dominica became a political issue there with opposition leader 

Lennox Linton seeking an investigation into the alleged involvement of the Dominican government in what he termed as an 'international scandal'. 

Sources in India said Choksi's money was speaking loudly in the Dominican politics. 

After spending over 50 days in the Dominican custody, Choksi was sent back to Antigua and Barbuda on bail granted on medical grounds. His presence in Antigua had raised the political temperature there too. 

Now with the Dominican authorities dropping proceedings against him, the task to bring him back to India has become more difficult.

Sources said if the Choksi matter was handled quietly in Dominica, India stood a better chance of getting him summarily deported to India. But Choksi managed to make enough noise making the Indian task difficult. 

Now, with the Dominican authorities dropping proceedings against him, India is looking at a an arduous legal challenge to surmount to bring him back face charges here.